What would Regis and Kelly say! This week some TD Bank customers found that their direct deposits hadn't posted to their accounts—a big mess, since many rely on, you know, having funds to pay bills. A commenter on Consumerist fumed that an expected Tuesday direct deposit only showed up yesterday, "Seriously - I trust these dummies with my money?" more ›

Easygoing banks like TD Bank try to cultivate a customer-friendly atmosphere by cheerfully greeting customers, handing out lollipops, and making sure there's no oppressive bulletproof glass harshing the vibe. But now the City Council, acting like a bunch of squares telling the hippies to put their clothes on, is considering a law to force banks to use the "bandit barriers." At a Public Safety Committee hearing yesterday, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly testified in support of the legislation, arguing that 47% of robberies in NYC in 2008 occurred at banks with bandit barriers, while 53% went down at banks without them. (The NYPD says there were 444 bank robbery attempts in 2008 — both failed and successful — up 57 percent from 2007.) But Gregory Braca, TD Bank’s president of operations, begged the Council to drop the bill, citing "evidence that if we had to install barriers, it could increase the risk of hostage-taking and injury to our customers." One TD Bank customer explained the appeal to the Times: "With that glass, you feel like you're in a government office, where the lady just talks to you through the little window." (And never offers you a lolly.) more ›

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly wants TD Bank to increase its security: The Daily News reports that he sent the bank a letter criticizing the bank's "friendly" atmosphere (like robber-friendly) lack of bandit barriers, "It is simply unacceptable to put business decisions before public safety." The News adds, "As if to prove Kelly's point, a prolific thief successfully robbed $1,000 from a TD branch on Ninth Ave. Monday - after being rebuffed at three Chase branches" (the Chase branches do have barriers between the customer and tellers). Apparently 17% of this year's bank robberies occurred at TD Bank branches, but TD Bank says, "We don't believe saying that we have a disproportionate amount of robberies is a fair portrayal of us." The NYPD wants to see bandit barriers plus eye-level cameras and "countertops designed to leave clear fingerprints" at bank branches to help deter more bank robberies (which were up 57% last year). more ›